Bob Johnson vs Paul Waner: Career Stats Comparison
Paul Waner has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (3 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Bob Johnson played 1933–1945 as a hitter; Paul Waner played 1926–1945 as a hitter.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
Bob Johnson (1933–1945) and Paul Waner (1926–1945) — they debuted in the 1930s and the 1920s respectively and share 13 seasons. Bob Johnson finished with 2,051 hits and 288 home runs; Paul Waner finished with 3,152 hits and 113 home runs. Below is the full career table, PIV adjustment, peak seasons, and a verdict.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Paul Waner, in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who hit more home runs? Bob Johnson, with 288 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS? Bob Johnson, with .899 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average? Paul Waner, with .333 to Bob Johnson's .296.
- Who had more hits? Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Bob Johnson's 2,051.
- Who drove in more runs? Paul Waner, with 1,309 to Bob Johnson's 1,283.
- Who has the higher career PIV? Paul Waner, with 40,296 career PIV to Bob Johnson's 37,613.
Bob Johnson
Paul Waner
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate for Bob Johnson and Paul Waner. Cells highlighted in green mark the category leader. 12 of the 15 lines below are scored; the other 3 are shown but not scored. Games and at-bats measure playing time, strikeouts accumulate with a longer career, and a line where both players are at zero was won by neither, so those are left unmarked. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bob Johnson | Paul Waner |
|---|---|---|
| Games not scored | 1,863 | 2,549 |
| At-Bats not scored | 6,920 | 9,459 |
| Runs | 1,239 | Leads: 1,627 |
| Hits | 2,051 | Leads: 3,152 |
| Doubles | 396 | Leads: 605 |
| Triples | 95 | Leads: 191 |
| Home Runs | Leads: 288 | 113 |
| RBI | 1,283 | Leads: 1,309 |
| Walks | 1,075 | Leads: 1,091 |
| Strikeouts not scored | 851 | 376 |
| Stolen Bases | 96 | Leads: 104 |
| Batting Avg | .296 | Leads: .333 |
| On-Base % | .393 | Leads: .404 |
| Slugging % | Leads: .506 | .473 |
| OPS | Leads: .899 | .878 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Paul Waner edges Bob Johnson 40,296 to 37,613 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Paul Waner played 20 seasons to Bob Johnson's 13, while Bob Johnson carries the higher per-season figure (2,893 to 2,015). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by OPS among qualified workloads (300+ at-bats).
Bob Johnson — top 3 seasons by OPS
Paul Waner — top 3 seasons by OPS
Verdict
Paul Waner leads 9 of the 12 scored categories on the head-to-head card: runs, hits, doubles, triples, and others. Bob Johnson leads 3: home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Paul Waner. PIV agrees: Paul Waner grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bob Johnson and Paul Waner careers compare
Bob Johnson and Paul Waner were active at the same time between 1933 and 1945. The two careers are close in length, 1,863 games for Bob Johnson and 2,549 for Paul Waner across 13 and 20 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Bob Johnson's edges on the table are home runs (288 to 113), slugging percentage (.506 to .473), and OPS (.899 to .878). Bob Johnson walked more often than struck out (1,075 walks, 851 strikeouts); Paul Waner walked more often than struck out (1,091 walks, 376 strikeouts). Home runs make up a larger share of Bob Johnson's hits: 288 of 2,051 for Bob Johnson, 113 of 3,152 for Paul Waner.
Bob Johnson vs Paul Waner: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bob Johnson or Paul Waner?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Paul Waner leads Bob Johnson in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Did Bob Johnson or Paul Waner hit more home runs?
- Bob Johnson, with 288 to Paul Waner's 113.
- Who had the higher OPS?
- Bob Johnson, with .899 to Paul Waner's .878.
- Who had the higher batting average?
- Paul Waner, with .333 to Bob Johnson's .296.
- Who had more hits?
- Paul Waner, with 3,152 to Bob Johnson's 2,051.